(A bird in the hand is worth...) Some Well-known English Proverbs

(A bird in the hand is worth...)
Some Well-known English Proverbs

Now that we've entered December, I wonder what all of you are planning to do between now and New Year. Well, there's one special thing that I plan to do. Last New Year my 8-year-old Japanese nephew, Kaichi, challenged me to a game of Iroha Karuta. I accepted the challenge very happily, but, guess what - he beat me soundly!

For any non-Japanese readers who don't know about Iroha Karuta, let me explain a little. Iroha Karuta is one of several games that Japanese people enjoy playing at New Year. In this game, 48 picture cards representing Japanese proverbs (kotowaza) and sayings are laid out on the floor. One person is the caller. The caller's job is to read out the proverbs while the players try to find the corresponding picture card. The first person to touch the card wins that card. At the end of the game, the person with the most cards is the winner. If you want to read more about Iroha Karuta, please try this website: Japan-Behind the Scenes: Japanese Alphabet Provokes Intellectual Excitement

Anyway, this month I'll be studying hard and learning all 48 of the proverbs in Iroha Karuta. Then, at New Year, I'm going to challenge Kaichi again - let's see how I do this year.

English proverbs

As I learn the Japanese proverbs in Iroha Karuta, I can see many similarities between them and certain English proverbs. Here are some examples. On the left is the original Japanese proverb, and on the right is an English proverb with a similar meaning:

Uso kara deta makoto - Many a true word is spoken in jest.
Shiranu ga hotoke - Ignorance is bliss.
Ron yori shōko - The proof of the pudding is in the eating / Actions speak louder than words.

Of course, the English proverbs are not literal translations of the Japanese proverbs, but the message is similar. In the next section, we'll look at some English proverbs. First, please try the exercise. Then , when you've finished the exercise, please click on the link at the bottom to check your answers and to receive a USEFUL TIP about how proverbs can be used in conversation.

Exercise

Below are 6 popular English proverbs that have been spilt into 2 parts. Match the half-proverb on the left with the half-proverb on the right to complete the proverb:

1. A bird in the hand... a. ...spoil the broth.

2. Birds of a feather... b. ...do as the Romans do.

3. Too many cooks... c. ...makes Jack a dull boy.

4. A stitch in time... d. ...saves nine.

5. All work and no play... e. ...is worth 2 in the bush.

6. When in Rome... f. ...flock together.

When you have finished, click here to check your answers, read an explanation of the 6 proverbs and get some useful information about how we use proverbs in conversation.

Click below if you want to try some of my other one-point lessons:

Bob's One-Point Weekly Lesson Archive